RIVERSDALE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2258, 10 June 1897, Page 25

RIVERSDALE.

Junk 7 — The athenaeum concert was duly held on the 24th ult., and I am sorry to say that, financially, it was not a success, the number of people present being very small. No doubt many things went towards this, as there have been a good many concerts about here lately, and in addition to this many are keeping themselves for the festivities of the Record week. Those who failed to turn up missed a great treat. I certainly never heard a better concert in Riversdale. Miss King and Mr W. Gee played a piano duet as overture. Miss Koss (In vercargill) sang "Beauty Bleep" and "Braes of Gleniffer" ia her usual finished style, and as an encore gave " Cam' ye by Athol." Miss Dolaniore gave two songs, and was well received, " Auld Robin Gray " (with violin accompaniment) being veiy popular. Miss Neave possesses a very goort, rich voice, which was heard to advantage in "Ben Bilt," while her second item, " The valley by the sea," was warmly encored. Mr T. Tanner sang "Love's request" and "Many happy returns of the day" in his usual happy style Mr Edwards sang "The 7th Royal Fusileers" and auother. For encore he gave the always popular " Mrs Jones's musical party." Mr J. S. Thomson fairly outshone himself, and in "My first wife " and "Daddy won't buy me a bow-wow!" both in appropriate costumo, he had the house convulsed with laughter. Mr Hart scored in " Mrs 'Enery 'Awkins," and Private Sasse sang "Monte Carlo" and a German song for encore. Daring the evening the little Misses Smail and Kelleher charmed us all by their deft rendering of the Highland fliDg and hornpipe. They were nicely dressed, and evidently well trained. A dance followed, but the night was bitterly cold, and the numbers small, so that dancing was not carried on with tho usual vigour, and between 2.30 and 3 the end came.

Volunteers.— On the Queen's Birthday the volunteers paraded, but only a very email muster took place. Captain Donald marched the men out to the vacant lot near the company's office and fired the orthodox feu-de-jnie, after which the men gave a royal salute and three hearty cheers and then marched past. After the parade a shooting match was held, when that steady shot, Sergeant W. Currie, again won for the fourth or fifth time running. He was hunted cloze up by Privates Beecot and Wood. I hear that the Volunteer Ball to be held on Record night, the 22nd inst., is likely to prove a great success, and I am sure I hope it will be. , Diamond Jubilee Day.— l am glad to hear that the school children, after all, are going to meet and plant an oak or oaks on the 22nd. Why not plant one at the Drill Hall and another in the Athcnceum grounds, too? Captain Donald also should turn out his volunteers, and have a public precession along with the children, Oddfellows, &c. *c, on Record Day. The military could fire their feu-de-jdie before planting the trees, and all these things are most laudablt on such an event. Goodness knows none of us alive now will ever see another Diamond Jubilee, so let ub take_ full advantage of this one. The lists for funds towards buying fireworks and bonfires are filling only very slowly and reluctantly, and if the committee do not get any more encouragement than at present, the scheme must fall through. They cannot force people to ante up —they can only ask them. Still, I shouldn't like to see the children disappointed. The Weather.— The less said about this the better. A week ago we had a regular blizzard, and the gale and the driving snow were bitterly cold. For three days it rained and hailed and snowed, and then it gave us a spell. Luckily we have had hardly any frosts as yet. Grain Market.— This looks better and better, and oftts are firming daily. Australia requires large quantities of oats and chaff, and far more seed oats will be required in New Zealand_ this year than usual, because of the increased price of that cereal. I have always expected to see good seed oats selling at 2s 6d per bushel this spring ; and if things keep on booming, we shall see feed oats at that price. In the meantime, if I had any feed oats in store I should hold on to them if possible. Chaff should be valuable property also, as much of it, and compressed hay also, will surely be wanted in Australia.